DECEMBER 1, 2012

Lehto cleared of boat charges

Former grand prix driver JJ Lehto has been cleared of charges over a boating accident in 2010, which killed a friend, and for which Lehto was originally sentenced to two years and four months in prison.

The accident occurred in June of that year after Lehto had returned to Finland after commentating for the Finniish MTV3 network at the Canadian GP. It happened in the early hours of the morning on a canal, with Lehto accused of being under the influence of alcohol and speeding.

Lehto, 46, appealed the verdict, however, claiming that he had not been driving the boat at the time of the accident.